It seems that 35% of Britons in a recent survey agree with the government's policy of sending undocumented visitors to this country to Rwanda. 45% disagree with it.

However, the waters have been muddied by deliberate misinformation and obfuscation by the proposers of this scheme.

First, the basis on which this has been agreed is by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). A MoU, unlike a treaty, is not subject to oversight and ratification by Parliament. This MoU is something which very few people seem to have actually read. However, it is available for reading here, and it does make for interesting reading.

We believe Councillor Ashton's letter will be of interest to our readers:

The First Lord of the Treasury and Prime Minister (A.B.de P. Johnson), 10 Downing Street, London SW1A 2AA

27 May 2022

Dear Mr Johnson

I am writing this to you in the hope that you will actually read it, and reflect on its contents.

While arguing that black is white - that is to say, potentially being made to wait for hours in passport control is a good thing, our "socially liberal" MP has just done it again.

He cheers for Brexit, the Brexit which according to the Office for Budget Responsibility is responsible for a 4% drop in GDP (the COVID pandemic by comparison is responsible for only 2% according to the same source), which has resulted in shortages of goods and materials, labour shortages, and financial pain to many SMEs.

It's been a great result last week for the Lib Dems in England. Nearly two hundred NEW councillors elected. Three NEW councils under the Liberal Democrats' control, bringing the total to sixteen.

Sad that we had no candidate in Tamworth to demonstrate what the swing there to Lib Dems might have been, and of course there were no elections this year in Lichfield or East Staffordshire (wait for next year, though!).

At the meeting of Lichfield City Council on 20 April, 2022, Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Paul McDermott (Stowe ward, pictured here outside Minster Hall) asked Lichfield Mayor Councillor Robert Yardley the following question under Standing Order 82 (a):

Would the Mayor acknowledge the hard work and personal sacrifices of the teachers and medical professionals in Lichfield during the Covid pandemic and would he therefore disassociate himself from the derogatory comments made by our Member of Parliament that they regularly failed to adhere to the Government lockdown rules?

Lichfield's MP, Michael Fabricant, seems never to have taken note of the advice above. He has made himself, and by extension, the constituency of Lichfield, a laughing-stock throughout the country.

On Twitter and indeed on national broadcast and print media, his attempts to defend the Prime Minister's breaking of the rules have met with disgust and incredulity. Indeed, many people believed that Mr Fabricant was in fact a comedy parody account along the lines of "Sir Michael Take CBE"'s over-the-top praise of Mr Johnson, and were surprised to find that he is indeed a real person and an elected representative, who excuses the Prime Minister on the grounds that key workers such as nurses and teachers were enjoying drinks together after their shifts.

Lichfield and Burntwood Liberal Democrats are backing a call for an emergency cut to VAT to protect local families from soaring bills, and the worsening cost of living crisis.

"We are calling for the standard rate of VAT to be reduced from 20% to 17.5% for one year, a move putting around £20,000,000 back in the pockets of 32,800 families in Lichfield, Burntwood, and the surrounding communities. This would mean saving households in the Lichfield District an average of around £600 each," says Hugh Ashton, Liberal Democrat Lichfield City Councillor.